Grate assembly



June 6, 1933. c. F. STREET GRATE ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mmf. 70274665 @MM www 7% 0 .0 F.@mePQ June 6, 1933.

C. F. STREET GRATE ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 21, 1929 2 Sheta'bS-Shee'l 2 Patented June 6, 1933` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLEMENT E. STREET, OF GEEENWICH, CONNECTICUT, AssIGNOE To AMERICAN `sTEEL EOUNDEIES, OE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OE NEW JERSEY GEATE ASSEMBLY `Application led February 21, `1929. Serial No. 341,683.

This invention pertains to gratos, and more particularly to the multiple grate assemblies used on locomotives.

Locomotive grates are usually of the rock-` ing type and it is common practice to shake them at frequent intervals while the locomotive is running. This is required for the reason that the coal commonly `used leaves aheavy ash and clinkers between the burning coal and the grates, and if this is not removed, it willretard the flowto the fire of the air required for combustion. But

" thereis a wide variation in the character `of the coal used onglocomotives, and while some of it when burning leaves `a heavy ash and clinkers, other leaves a very light ash and few cli'nkers, if any.

, Itis common practice touse a drop grate in combination with a set of rocking grates,

and this drop grate is operated by means of a set of levers which are handled from the ground. `They can therefore be used only when the locomotive is standing.

This drop grate is pivoted near one-iside and is `very different in construction from either the non-rocking type or from the rocking type shown in the construction herewith, and shouldnot be confused therewith.

Grates of this type when used in this service are subject to a high degree of heat on their upper surface while the lower parts are immersed in a continuous flow of `cold air. The different parts are therefore subiect to different amounts of expansion and( contraction, and an object of this invention is to provide a construction in which this will not result in warping and distortion of the parts of the assembly. Y

`Another object of this invention is to provide a grate assembly which is inexpensive to build and maintain and one which fulfills all requirements for economic operation and maintenance. u 1.4.5` Still another object is to provide a grate bar assembly which permits rapid cleaning of the fire and changes ofthe grate bars.

Yet another object is to provide a grate bar assembly which resists distortion, is

50. readily removable and is capable of rapid conversion to provide different drafts to Yet afurther object is to provide a grate Y assembly wherein the securing members between parts arereduced tov a minimum, and

wherein the clearances are predetermined and arranged to permit ease of operation and assemblage.

With these and various other objects view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly po-inted out in the-specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

Y In the drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of. the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts s i Figure l is a top plan view, showing the supportingqrelation of the grate frame to one ofiqthegglrate plate members; Figure` 2 is aside elevation,`partly in sectign, ,of the assemblage illustrated in `Figure 1,'` the position occupied by the grate member completing the assembly being indicated in dotted lines;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the grate assembly, the `same being takenfrom the end of the grate frame providedwith the trunnion; .A i

Figure 4 is a cross `section ofthe grate frame assembly 'illustrated in Figure 2, showing the relation of the shaker arm to the remainder of the assembly; f

Figure 5 `is a side elevation, partly in section, of a modified form of grateassembly, the position occupied by the grate member completing the assembly being indicated in dotted lines; i

shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the sup-v porting frame 15 of the grate assembly consists essentially of a single longitudinalrib- 16 provided at one end thereof with a trunnion socket 17 and at the other end thereof with a horseshoe or U-shaped trunnion socket 18, each of said sockets being provided vvith outstanding lug members 19 provided for locking purposes in a manner to be later described. It will of course be understood thatthe frame. may be of any length to accommodate any size or any number of plate grates, the embodiment illustrated being for an assembly including two of such plate gratos 20. The supporting frame is provided with an enlarged portion 21 adjacent'the center thereof, said portion having downwardly extending bosses 22, the said bosses beingy providedr with apertures 23. The grate plates 20 may be either of the arcuate or flat type provided with suitably disposed apertures 24, said apertures being of a size and spacing for proper draft purposes.

The plates 2O adjacent their inner or `inboard end are provided with downwardly extending lugs 25 adapted to straddle the rib 16 and the bosses 22, said lugs being provided with aligned' apertures adapted to register with the aperture 23 for the reception of a locking pin 26 for securing said plate grate to the support. rIhe .lugs 25 merge into and are integral with the plate and also with a reinforcing rib 27 formed on the inner end of the plate, saidrip merging into and being integral vviihn/r ongitudinal ribs 28 which in 'turn merge ijtli and are integral with a rib 29 form'edi gtlle' outer end of said plate. Ribs 28 are Ipreferably made deeper adjacent their centers than at their ends for the purpose' of preventing the plate from sagging as a result of service, and to preventV said ribs from bowing outwardly, a series of local crossribs 30 is provided which ribs are integral with said ribs and merge into the plate.

In service, it has been found that under heat the ends of the plate will go up or the center will vgo down, so in order to prevent either one or both of these movements, localribs 31 are provided suitably spaced and preferably in between or in staggered position with respect tothe ribs 30, said ribs contacting with the longitudinal rib 16 of the frame. The inner end of the plate of course is restrained from going up by the pin 26, and the outer end is restrained from going up by providing the depending` fiange 29 with inwardly extending hooks 32 adapted to have locking engagement with the lugs 19. rlhe frame may be suitably apertured at any place along its length, shown adjacent the center thereof, and may be provided witha guiding boss 3S adapted to cooperate with a portion of the jaws 33 of the shaker arm 34 secured by means of a rivet or lock connection 35 to said frame.

The structure is'assembled with sufficient lost motion between the parts to allow them to go together easily and of course the first effect of warping will be to take up this lost motion and bring all the parts rmly in contact. After this has occurred, any further movement will be resisted by the vertical strength of the frame. In assembling the parts of the device, it is only necessary to slip the hooks 32 into engagement with the lugsV 19, dropping the plate into place whereby the lugs 25 straddle the frame and the apertures in lugs 25 register with the aperture 23 provided in the bosses 22 whereupon the locking member 26 may be put in place. lIhe adjacent grate plate may likewise be put in place,ithere being sufficient clearance for the parts to permit their ready assemblage.

Referring now more particularly to the form of the device illustrated in` Figure 5,

the longitudinal frame r116 is provided with trunnions 117 at each end'thereof and outwardly extending lugs 119 are formed on said frame adjacent said trunnions. The plate grates 120 may be of the same construction as has been already described with respect to grate plate 20,'t`he transverse hook members 132 being provided for cooperation' with the lugs 119 for locking'one end of 'the plate grate in operative position. As before, the longitudinal member is provided with an enlarged portion 121 provided with bosses 122 having` apertures` 123 therein for the reception of locking members cooperating with the depending lugs 125 provided on thev grate plates. rlllie longitudinal frame member may' be. provided at convenientplaces along' its length withv apertures 135 and 136 having bosses137 and 138 disposed adjacent thereto for cooperation with. parts of the shaker arm' 134 to-maintain the same in substantially xed position with respect to said fran e members, said shaker arm being provided with aws 133 having apertures therein adapted to receive the locking member 139.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 8, the frame member.116 is provided with a `trunnion 117 and outwardly extending lugs 119. rIhe grate plate 120 is suitably supported on said frame but is provided vided at one end With a trunnionsocket217 and at the other end with the U-shaped trunnion 218. The frame member 216 is y deeper adjacent the center thereof as is the case in the modifications already described, and this member may also be of substantially truss formation, as illustrated inFigure 7, that is, it is provided With an enlarged rib or bulbous portion 316 provided along the loWerfedge thereof. Outwardly extending lugs 219 are provided adjacent the trunnions and are adapted to provide cooperating locking relation With the longitudinal hook members 240 provided on the plate grate 220. The grate plate is provided With reinforcing flanges, as before described, the

f inner flange thereof beingprovided with depending lugs 225 provided With aligned apertures adapted to cooperate with apertures 223 provided in the lugs 222 formed on the longitudinal supporting member` 216. Bosses 2411 may also be provided on the supporting member adjacent suitablyspaced apertures 236, said apertures being for the `reception of securing means passing through the upstanding javvs 233 of the shaker arm 234, the longitudinal frame member being further provided with bosses 238 cooperating with the shaker arms to maintain the same in fixed position With respect to said frame.

The operation and assemblage of the modified forms are substantially the same as has already beendescribed With respect to the first modification, and it is to be understood that I do not Wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by Way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of the device Will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of the inventionor the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a grate assembly, the combination of a support, a grate member secured thereto, said member having staggered reinforcements thereon, certain of said reinforcements having contacting relation to said support.

2, In a grate assembly, the combination of a support, a grate member secured thereto, said member having reinforcements disposed at the sides and center thereof, the reinforcements at the center being in staggered relation to the reinforcements at the sides, saidcenter reinforcements having contactingrelation to said support. l i

- 3. InL-aigrate assembly, the combination of a support having securing `means `thereon, a grate member carriedby said support and having securing means at each end thereof adapted to cooperate With said rst named securing means for fasteningV said grate member to said support, and reinforcing ribs disposed on said grate member and contacting `with said support to preventrdis- `tortion of said grate member.

4.: In a` grateassembly, `the combination of a support `having securingmeans thereon, a grate member carried bylsaid support and having a marginal reinforcementthereon, securing means ateach* end of said member adapted to cooperatevvith said first named securing means for fastening said grate member to said support, reinforcing ribs disposed on said grate member and integral With said' marginal `reinforcement to prevent distortion of the latter, andcenter reinforcing ribs disposed on said grate member and contacting said support to prevent distortion of said grate member.

5. In a grate assembly, the combination of a support having securing means thereon, a grate member carried by said support and having a marginal reinforcement thereon, securing means at each end of said member, certain of said means being integral with said marginal reinforcement, named securing means being adapted to cooperate With securing means on the support for fastening said grate member to said support, and reinforcing ribs disposed on said grate member and integral With said marginal reinforcement to prevent distortion of the latter.

6. In a grate assembly, the combination of a support having securing means thereon, a grate member carried by said support and having securing means at each end thereof adapted to cooperate With the securing means on the support for fastening said grate member to said support, one of said securing means including members disposed transversely of said grate member, and re` inforcing ribs disposed on said grate member and'contacting said support to prevent distortion of said grate member.

7. In a grate assembly, the combination of a support having securing means thereon,

a grate member carried by said support and bly.

said last 8. As an article of manufacture, a plate grate having marginal flanges, reinforcing means on said grate and integral with certain of said flanges to prevent distortion of said flanges, and fastening means on said grate integral with other of said flanges, certain of said fastening means including facing hook members.

9. As an article of manufacture, a plate grate having marginal flanges, reinforcing means on said grate and integral with certain of said flanges to prevent distortion of said flanges, reinforcing means adjacentA the longitudinal center line of said grate and in staggered relation to said lirst named reinforcing means, and fastening means on said grate integral With other of said flanges, certain of said fastening means including facing hook members.

Signed at (hicago, Illinois, this 14th day of February, 1929.

CLEMENT F. STREET. 

